UN to vote on adopting new world map that shows Africa’s true scale
The UN is set to vote on a resolution to phase out the traditional Mercator map projection in favor of the Equal Earth map. Proponents argue the change is necessary to accurately represent the true size of the African continent.
Why it matters
The adoption of a new global standard could impact educational curricula, cartography, and international perceptions of geographic scale.
Africa on the traditional world map based on the Mercator projection, left, and on the 2018 Equal Earth map, right. Composite: equal-earth.com, Getty Images Africa on the traditional world map based on the Mercator projection, left, and on the 2018 Equal Earth map, right. Composite: equal-earth.com, Getty Images Africa UN to vote on adopting new world map that shows Africa’s true scale Togo-sponsored resolution calls to phase out traditional map that depicts continent as similar size to Greenland
Prefer the Guardian on Google The UN general assembly will vote on Friday on a resolution for the world to formally phase out the traditional Mercator map of the globe in favour of one that more accurately displays Africa’s size.
Robert Dussey, Togo’s foreign affairs minister, said the resolution was sponsored by Togo and backed by countries including the African Union’s 54 other member states. He did not specify the total number.
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